Following the money: local Republican candidates raise more, spend less than Democrats
Published 9:02 am Tuesday, October 31, 2023
- File photo
On Oct. 16, candidates on the Nov. 7 ballot filed their latest campaign finance reports to the state.
To date, local Republican candidates in District 84 and 89 and Senate District 17 have raised a combined total of $2,606,223, $102,640 more than their Democrat opponents. However, the Democratic candidates have outspent Republicans in these three races by $377,497. Expense receipts through Sept. 30 for the Democrats total $1,355,892, while Republicans have only spent $978,395 to date.
Of the six candidates, Emily Brewer and Nadarius Clark have each eclipsed the million-dollar mark in total contributions.
Here is a look at financing for each race.
House District 84 — Nadarius Clark, D — Michael Dillender, R
For House District 84, which spans the Isle of Wight County-Suffolk border, Clark has raised a total of $1,378,587 in contributions, $665,543 coming during the Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 reporting period, with his largest donors for the period ending Sept. 30 being the Virginia Democratic Caucus pitching in a total of $315,000 and the Workers Vote throwing in another $151,889. Dillender has collected $624,275 in total, with $320,925 coming during this most recent reporting period. Dillender’s top contributors this period are the House Republican Campaign Committee, pitching in $155,000.
Clark has outspent Dillender by $531,866 this reporting period.
House District 89 — Karen Jenkins, D — Baxter Ennis, R
In House District 89, which encompasses the remaining areas of Suffolk not in the 84th and spans into Chesapeake, campaign contributions were close, with Ennis bringing in $506,812 to date, with $169,610 coming in from the Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 reporting period. Ennis’ largest donors were the Republican Party of Virginia, dolling out $54,531, and the Republican State Leadership Committee, chipping in $50,000. Jenkins’s total contributions to date sit at $482,999, with $379,962 coming during the September reporting period. Jenkins’ largest donor during this period was the Virginia Democratic Caucus, with a $230,000 donation.
Jenkins has outspent Ennis by $162,866 this reporting period.
Senate District 17 — Clinton Jenkins, D — Emily Brewer, R
In what many consider to be the most contentious of the local state races, Brewer’s contributions to date have totaled $1,475,136, with $579,757.59 coming in during the September reporting period. Brewer’s top donor this period was the Republican State Leadership Committee, contributing $219,095. Jenkins’ total contributions to date sit at $641,997, with $189,384.11 coming in during the September reporting period. Jenkins’ top donor this period was the Virginia Democratic Caucus, with $230,000.
Brewer outspent Jenkins by $317,235 this period.
The 17th encompasses Isle of Wight, Southampton, Greenville and Brunswick counties, the cities of Suffolk, Franklin and Emporia and part of Dinwiddie County.
*Campaign finance totals provided through vpap.org and Virginia State Board of Elections.
